Recent leaks of the yet-to-be-officially-announced M4 MacBook Pro have taken a strange turn. The laptop was initially up for sale on Facebook, and now, a full unboxing video of it has surfaced on YouTube, as reported by MacRumors.
To add to the intrigue, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman retweeted the video by Russian YouTuber Wylsacom, commenting, “Unconfirmed but looks fairly legitimate.” This is not just any YouTube channel, as Wylsacom boasts 11.3 million subscribers.
Unconfirmed but looks fairly legitimate: a Russian YouTube channel claims to have the yet-to-be-announced M4 MacBook Pro and gave it a full unboxing and hands-on. We’ve seen prototypes leak early but never a full retail Apple device weeks in advance. https://t.co/LYrt68ZmEn
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) October 6, 2024
This level of leak is unprecedented for Apple. If authentic, it means a finalized product has reached consumers before its official announcement.
The mystery deepens about how this particular consumer acquired the MacBook Pro, given that Apple does not operate in Russia. The English-language box suggests an alternative source. Perhaps the laptop was purchased from the private Facebook group, but transporting it to Russia poses logistical challenges.
A lingering concern is the persistence of the M3 wallpaper on the box, raising doubts about the authenticity. Apple typically updates wallpapers for new models.
If we assume the leak is genuine, the video offers insights into the upcoming MacBook Pro refresh:
- The possibility of a minimum 16GB RAM configuration in line with rumors.
- Indications of three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a feature seen on higher-tier models in the previous generation.
- The presentation of a Space Black color, currently exclusive to specific configurations, hinting at broader availability.
- Benchmark performance data shared by the YouTube channel suggests a significant speed improvement with the M4 chip compared to the M3.
If authentic, Apple appears to have made significant changes to the base model, including RAM capacity, port options, and color choices.
Alternatively, this could be a modified M3 Pro or M3 Max model with deceptive packaging. Verification of the leak’s credibility remains uncertain, but if accurate, it signifies internal challenges at Apple.
